NOC Recaps Supergirl: Mars Attacks!

So I’ve been out for a few weeks and am still catching up on all the TV I missed, but I wanted to get this Supergirl recap out ahead of tonight’s all new episode. This won’t be a full on recap, however. Basically just a series of OMG gifs because I’m still reeling from the fact that we actually have a live action Martian Manhunter show on television, you guys! Also shout out to Connie for holding down the recap fort on Supes last week!

“Strange Visitor from Another Planet” kicks off with Kara at the coffee shop getting hit on by her real life husband and former Glee co-star, Blake Jenner. (And I have one more actor to add to the list for the eventual Arrow/Flash/Supergirl musical crossover!)

(Livetweeter sidenote: I'm all about Blake Jenner. He was my favorite on the Glee Project and then my fave Glee newbie.) #Supergirl#SupGirl

Turns out the guy is not Kara’s (McKinley) high school sweetheart but Cat’s long lost son and is only in town because Kara forged a letter Cat never sent to him. When Cat finds out, she’s livid and fires Kara on the spot. Before she fires Kara, though, she sends Jimmy James to cover an anti-immigrant alien rally held by Donald Trump Senator Miranda Crane.

At the rally, a strange blur starts attacking the attendees and James captures it all on film. He signal watches Kara, and Supergirl arrives just in time to find the alien attacker.

It’s just as well too because when Hank sees the alien, he uncharacteristically freezes in the field. What could have spooked our favorite Martian? How about a white one?

Who knew when Supergirl first started that we’d be getting such a deep dive into another iconic Justice Leaguer in J’onn J’onzz? But yo, Berlanti, Kreisberg, and Adler just gave us the Martian Manhunter origin story in prime time on CBS! And it was dope.

Senator Crane is taken back to DEO HQ, but it isn’t the senator at all. Lest we forget, Martians (green and white ones) can shapeshift and it seems that the White Martian attacker has assumed the visage of its victim to get close to the Martian Manhunter. While in custody, the senator reveals herself and Hank freezes once again.

Also, I have to give all the props to David Harewood for a bravura performance this episode! I wasn’t always the biggest fan of the DEO earlier this season, but the Martian Manhunter reveal us me breathlessly anticipating future Hank scenes.

Anyway, J’onn/Hank blames himself for all of the damage the White Martian is causing, but Alex helps him deal.

The two plan to take on the White Martian together, but when the plan goes south (and Alex gets abducted), Hank decides once and for all he’s going to go on a suicide mission to kill the White Martian himself. Suffice it to say, Kara is not on board with this mission.

Hank shows up to surrender to the White Martian, but Supergirl also arrives, and the three have an alien v alien v alien showdown that is ten times more engaging than anything I’ve seen from Batman v Superman.

The second J’onn gets the upper hand, he puts Krypto-cuffs on Kara and proceeds to slit the White Martian’s throat. Kara appeals to his better angels, and convinces J’onn that killing their enemies is not what superheroes do (unless you’re her cousin).

Hank/J’onn agrees and they lock up the White Martian at the DEO. Hank thanks Alex and Kara and tells them they are like daughters to him.

Meanwhile, Ryder Adam starts to patch up his relationship with his mother, thanks to Kara’s intervention which also saves her job. They also continue their flirty banter (it’s like they should get married or something) so it’s a good sign that he’ll probably be back on the show to make James and/or Winn insanely jealous.

The episode ends with Kara and Alex watching television together and seeing a news report of another Supergirl in National City.

This time it isn’t Martian Manhunter in disguise either but our first look at Bizarro Supergirl.

Related

Published by Keith Chow

Keith is the editor-in-chief of the pop culture blog The Nerds of Color, a co-editor of the Asian American Comics Anthologies Secret Identities and Shattered, host of the podcasts Hard NOC Life, Southern Fried Asian, and DC TV Classics, and one of the founders of WICOMICON.
View all posts by Keith Chow